Thanksgiving Turkey for a Cause

At a time when grocery prices are soaring through the stratosphere, one of Brooklyn’s historic landmark Churches, the Christ Apostolic Church, using their dedicated 501(c)(3) “The Goke Food Pantry” organization, rises to the occasion weekly to feed the community. The food giveaway endeavor couldn’t have been more relevant at a better time when people are in dire need of provisions, especially with many government employees and some private sectors, now out of jobs. An operation that has been in effect for a dozen years, has seen its growth and size in bi-weekly produce and goods accumulation more than double recently, especially this year. The annual turkey giveaway pre Thanksgiving had a record turn out, this year in conjunction with the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) and AJID Foundation. According to the organization’s cordinator and the Church’s Deacon, Babatunde Thomas, demographic of the 6000+ people fed were about 80% caucasian, 10% hispanic, 5% Middle Eastern, 4% African American and less than 1% Africans, this included low to middle class, stealthly peppered with some well earning individuals, lined up around the avenue length city block to wait their turn in picking up several of the food items carefully arranged outside the Church. It is said that some perched outside from the evening prior to ensure they were one of the first to score the highly coveted turkey, which tends to run out midway through the giveaway. Not even the post office mail man doing his runs could resist making a pit stop to pick up a turkey for himself.

The Church acquires the produce through various means ranging from Food Bank of NY donations which helps them secure federal government grants of about $600,000 annually to operate and fund the purchases, grocery stores such as Wholefoods and purchases made using donations accumulated from the organization’s website.

The Goke Food Pantry organization commits to ensuring the community doesn’t go hungry by giving away produce every other Tuesdays and every other Saturdays monthly to well over 15000 people, with the inclusion of turkey once a year on Thanksgiving week. The turkey is exclusively funded by the Church via donations from the public and congregations.

Nigeria’s Consulate General Ambassador Franklin Abiola Ogunyemi and NYC Councilwoman Shahana K. Hanif were in attendance to present the first batch of turkeys, a symbolic and welcoming gesture that showed how well the community lawmakers are in full support of the organization’s initiatives. The profound love and admiration from all attendees and 60+ volunteers was not lost on me. The joy and happiness of participation amongst everyone was contagious. All volunteers and staff members of the organization work pro bono. Needless to say, they all felt genuinely happy to be there to lend a hand in distributing the goods.

The Christ Apostolic Church was established in 1995, after taking over ownership of the vast property from Bethlehem German Church. Under the stewardship of Pastor (Dr.) Olugbenga T. Famojuro and Deacon Babatunde Thomas coordinating, Goke Food Pantry has expanded beyond their expectations but more can still be achieved to take it to great heights of a more inclusive range beyond Brooklyn. All are welcome from far and wide to come by and pick up a few things to feed their household. This recent turkey giveaway saw people from various religions come by, especially those of Muslim and Jewish faith. At the end of the day, the soul must be fed, regardless of who and how we worship! As the saying goes in Nigeria, “Man must wak!”

For more details on how you can get provisions or to donate to help further this remarkable cause, please visit gokefoodpantry.org

Click here to see the events video posted on instagram